United States of America

Southeast Asia/ASEAN is enormously important to the “rebalancing” and “pivot” of American policy towards the Asia-Pacific region. In fact, in recent years, there has been considerable scholarly and analytical debate…

China’s ideal outcome for North Korea is a Goldilocks state—one that is not so strong to challenge China or so weak that its implosion threatens Chinese interests. China’s multifaceted approach…

The six-party talks have been hindered by political shifts in the states involved, and especially by changing levels of support for the talks in Washington and Seoul. But the talks…

The United States, Russia, and China have cooperated to help deter North Korea from again invading the South and thus preventing Korean tensions to become a devastating hot war. While…

Policy uncertainty in the United States has increased, which is influencing the long-term outlook for South Korean multinationals’ investment decisions. I use recent data to quantify the magnitude and drivers of this uncertainty, including trade, monetary, and fiscal policies. Then, I examine how firms may respond, such as aligning with U.S. policy initiatives, adopting a…

Amid all the talk of tariffs and investments in the United States, numerous reports and analyses have pointed to the benefits of deep socioeconomic linkages between the United States and South Korea. As President Donald Trump noted as early as 2019, “Hyundai, Samsung, CJ, Doosan, and SK Group… have created more than 50,000 brand new…

South Korean officials proposed “support[ing] the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry” as an avenue for cooperation during the two-plus-two tariff negotiations between the United States and South Korea on April 24, 2025. Moving forward, future negotiations by the United States on trade will continue to involve partnerships in areas where allied countries such as…

Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) are two news agencies funded by the U.S. federal government that provide information to global audiences, especially those in countries without free and independent media. But in mid-March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that targeted their funding. Their parent agency, the United States Agency…

Please join KEI and KIEP for a discussion about the first 10 years of KORUS and the future of the U.S.-Korea economic relationship.